NIL struggles

[dasher]

How can you have a Syracuse podcast where you do not discuss the players we actually signed?

That wasn't on the agenda

 

[Acesn8s]

If we don’t win this year it won’t be because of NIL.

You honestly think we have a top 25 roster right now? I am not saying this isn’t a Tourney team but if you don’t have complete orange blinders on this roster is not one of 25 best in the country.

 

[rrlbees]

Etan has zero idea of what he is talking about.

And nothing Etan is saying about the situation is helping SU one bit.

 

[Acesn8s]

And nothing Etan is saying about the situation is helping SU one bit.

I would say he speaks for a lot of past athletes I have two former Syracuse football players who work for me now that agree whole heartedly with him. I would argue that anybody who has played football or basketball in the past 10 years fall in line with the beliefs of Etan. So is it helping maybe not, but it is the popular sentiment. Weitsman was literally eating dinner two weeks ago with our best QB since 1998. Where don’t think he falls in the argument, regardless what others have done for the university.

 

[djcon57]

I like Etan, but this latest shtick sucks.

 

[rrlbees]

I would say he speaks for a lot of past athletes I have two former Syracuse football players who work for me now that agree whole heartedly with him. I would argue that anybody who has played football or basketball in the past 10 years fall in line with the beliefs of Etan. So is it helping maybe not, but it is the popular sentiment. Weitsman was literally eating dinner two weeks ago with our best QB since 1998. Where don’t think he falls in the argument, regardless what others have done for the university.

Of course athletes are gonna agree with him. It’s $$$$.

 

[Acesn8s]

Of course athletes are gonna agree with him. It’s $$$$.

Well they are the ones who get the word out for recruiting so that’s a pretty big deal.

 

[RedtheGOB]

Can we start paying attention to people that matter?

Is Melo complaining about NIL, is Fran Brown complaining about NIL? Or the people that matter. Nope.

Right now I’m looking at an Instagram pic of Fran Brown and Mike Tirico talking shop about how bright the future of our football program is and the turnaround.

Yet here we are with 75 mins of these 2 guys yet again talking about what ifs and what could have been and their grievances.

I could care less and hope people stop acting like children but when someone that matters with the program speaks up and says this is a problem then I’ll listen.

 

[orangenauburn]

You honestly think we have a top 25 roster right now? I am not saying this isn’t a Tourney team but if you don’t have complete orange blinders on this roster is not one of 25 best in the country.

I think we have a tournament quality team but not sold on staff

 

[Cusefan0307]

You honestly think we have a top 25 roster right now? I am not saying this isn’t a Tourney team but if you don’t have complete orange blinders on this roster is not one of 25 best in the country.

We have the 15th combined newcomer class in the country according to 247. Ranked right in between Bama and Auburn. There will be five former top 60 HS players on the roster, another guy who’s a 4 star, the ACC leader in assists and a 40% 3 point shooter that scored 20 in a win against Gonzaga last year for his school.

Red theoretically has everything he needs with maybe the exception of a top flight center. The main thing giving me pause is not the talent. It’s the coach.

 

[Cuse1055]

Etan is so full of himself. He keeps saying SU can’t retain their best players and they will lose Kiyan next year. He said the same thing about Donnie. If he hasn’t noticed, Donnie and JJ were retained.

Does he even realize who Kiyan’s dad is? The son of a commencement speaker doesn’t transfer due to money ;-)

 

[dasher]

I would say he speaks for a lot of past athletes I have two former Syracuse football players who work for me now that agree whole heartedly with him. I would argue that anybody who has played football or basketball in the past 10 years fall in line with the beliefs of Etan. So is it helping maybe not, but it is the popular sentiment. Weitsman was literally eating dinner two weeks ago with our best QB since 1998. Where don’t think he falls in the argument, regardless what others have done for the university.

I'm sorry but they don't know what they don't know. No one here has looked in to it more than I have. There is a lot more to the story than has been made public. That is the University's fault. I have talked to AW and I like him. But if he wanted to help Syracuse basketball, he could. There is no one stopping him from donating to the collective. Others that have given a lot more money to the school than he has have done just that. I understand he doesn't want to do that. That is his right. But then he should stop complaining about the way the University does it's business. And once again, there are two sides to every story and so far, the University has just let AW tell his side. I guess they think they are taking the high road. I disagree with them. And not for nothing, the real complaining should have been last year. We, like most in the ACC, were painfully short of what we needed. Not so much this year.

 

[sufan59]

I think two things can be true: our funding situation isn’t as dire currently as Etan suggests. It can’t be that dire, this offseason has actually gone pretty well imo. Perfect? No, but very close to it. Weitsman back in the fold bringing celebrities to games and donating 2 million in NIL a year brings the program to a new level is also something I would like to see. I do think people need to realize how different the environment is right now then when Weitsman left.

 

[sufan59]

I'm sorry but they don't know what they don't know. No one here has looked in to it more than I have. There is a lot more to the story than has been made public. That is the University's fault. I have talked to AW and I like him. But if he wanted to help Syracuse basketball, he could. There is no one stopping him from donating to the collective. Others that have given a lot more money to the school than he has have done just that. I understand he doesn't want to do that. That is his right. But then he should stop complaining about the way the University does it's business. And once again, there are two sides to every story and so far, the University has just let AW tell his side. I guess they think they are taking the high road. I disagree with them. And not for nothing, the real complaining should have been last year. We, like most in the ACC, were painfully short of what we needed. Not so much this year.

If anything my biggest takeaway from that interview was the university was put in a terrible position that they probably wanted zero part in. I’m sure the people at the university wants everyone’s support. I do think from the overall athletic department standpoint, the Lally’s support is more important than Weitsman. But still a crappy situation for the university.

 

[Orangezoo]

If Red wins and changes the narrative this year Etans agenda will fade quickly.

 

[721Comstock]

I think two things can be true: our funding situation isn’t as dire currently as Etan suggests. It can’t be that dire, this offseason has actually gone pretty well imo. Perfect? No, but very close to it. Weitsman back in the fold bringing celebrities to games and donating 2 million in NIL a year brings the program to a new level is also something I would like to see. I do think people need to realize how different the environment is right now then when Weitsman left.

FFF both of those guys.

Seriously.

I’ve donated more this year - $44!! - than the total that Etan has EVER,
and that AW has since his BFF JAB “retired” and he took his ball and went home.

There is quite literally NOTHING stopping AW from supporting SU sports.

He can donate to any of the collectives at any time.
He can make a capital donation to a building or facility.

< crickets. >

Meanwhile, Etan made millions in the NBA directly due to his Cuse career,
and yet my 2025 financial contributions are more infinity % than the total of his lifetime donations to Cuse.

tl/dr - they can both shut the front door, and go the FFF away.

 

[Acesn8s]

I'm sorry but they don't know what they don't know. No one here has looked in to it more than I have. There is a lot more to the story than has been made public. That is the University's fault. I have talked to AW and I like him. But if he wanted to help Syracuse basketball, he could. There is no one stopping him from donating to the collective. Others that have given a lot more money to the school than he has have done just that. I understand he doesn't want to do that. That is his right. But then he should stop complaining about the way the University does it's business. And once again, there are two sides to every story and so far, the University has just let AW tell his side. I guess they think they are taking the high road. I disagree with them. And not for nothing, the real complaining should have been last year. We, like most in the ACC, were painfully short of what we needed. Not so much this year.

I am not doubting what you personally have looked into, but saying “they dont know what they don’t know” in my humble opinion doesn’t matter at all. What I do know if former and current athletes love the guy, whether it’s money or influence he is winning g this argument so two sides to every story does not mean oogotz. What matters is there is disconnect between a Billionaire who wants to help his friends win and win big, and he feels he can’t do it his way, most likely because other donors have a beef with him. And I disagree with the last line I still think we are very short of what we need to not be a middle to bottom of middle pack Acc team next year again respectfully my opinion.

 

[Bulldog04]

Etan needs to shut up. He’s a guy who acts like he’s so much smarter than everyone else and knows so much. What kind of alum who literally helps with NOTHING says what he says. And Kiyan has committed 2 years minimum to play at Syracuse. I know that for a complete fact. Etan is one of the worst and all he does is yap about stuff he knows nothing about

 

[dasher]

I am not doubting what you personally have looked into, but saying “they dont know what they don’t know” in my humble opinion doesn’t matter at all. What I do know if former and current athletes love the guy, whether it’s money or influence he is winning g this argument so two sides to every story does not mean oogotz. What matters is there is disconnect between a Billionaire who wants to help his friends win and win big, and he feels he can’t do it his way, most likely because other donors have a beef with him. And I disagree with the last line I still think we are very short of what we need to not be a middle to bottom of middle pack Acc team next year again respectfully my opinion.

I don't know why I am going to bother. I will just leave it at this. If he wanted to help his friends win. He can. No one is stopping him from donating as much money as he wants to. He just has to follow the rules. The same rules that every other donor to our NIL has followed. If he doesn't want to do that...he really doesn't want his friends to win that badly, does he?

 

[Acesn8s]

I don't know why I am going to bother. I will just leave it at this. If he wanted to help his friends win. He can. No one is stopping him from donating as much money as he wants to. He just has to follow the rules. The same rules that every other donor to our NIL has followed. If he doesn't want to do that...he really doesn't want his friends to win that badly, does he?

I think the joke is they have these arbitrary rules for a guy who is worth a couple BILLION dollars. I know a guy who is a massive donor to Arizona, and I don’t know exactly what rules Syracuse is putting in place that you are talking about, but I do know, no other school I have heard of is turning away $$ and they will do damn near anything to get it, and sometimes these donors even tell the school pound salt they will do what they want, and their is no oversight to stop it. It appears Adam wants to do it with blessings which I respect but that is in fact rare.

 

[SUFaninNJ]

Full disclosure, I didn’t listen to the Ethan, Devo and AW pod, so please correct me if I’m wrong. Wasn’t the issue with AW settled a while ago and he just doesn’t like the result? Add to that Etan seems to be fanning the flames due to his own agenda? That’s how I perceive it from afar.

 

[PauliePeppas]

You would think Etan was a Georgetown troll the way he craps on his alma mater

 

[Newhouser]

Red wins - Etan and his tired, uninformed act (which I think is being rewarded by AW) goes away.

 

[funkysoul77]

I don't know why I am going to bother. I will just leave it at this. If he wanted to help his friends win. He can. No one is stopping him from donating as much money as he wants to. He just has to follow the rules. The same rules that every other donor to our NIL has followed. If he doesn't want to do that...he really doesn't want his friends to win that badly, does he?

Makes sense. Thanks for all the effort you have given to get to the bottom of this! Just curious though, you said you had a story to tell once the PS publishes their article, and I thought (perhaps I misread, sorry if I did!) that you gave impression that this story wouldn't be a great look for university. So, without getting into details, do you believe its possible both sides share a little blame or do you think its mostly Adam's fault for not wanting to follow university's set policies.

I will say this, the one thing about this story that doesn't make sense to me is why there are threats to ED and others being made by certain donors. Either way hopefully the PS article comes out soon, clears all this up and all this can finally be put to rest.

 

[dasher]

Makes sense. Thanks for all the effort you have given to get to the bottom of this! Just curious though, you said you had a story to tell once the PS publishes their article, and I thought (perhaps I misread, sorry if I did!) that you gave impression that this story wouldn't be a great look for university. So, without getting into details, do you believe its possible both sides share a little blame or do you think its mostly Adam's fault for not wanting to follow university's set policies.

I will say this, the one thing about this story that doesn't make sense to me is why there are threats to ED and others being made by certain donors. Either way hopefully the PS article comes out soon, clears all this up and all this can finally be put to rest.

I would prefer that no one takes any inference to anything that I have said to this point. I very much wanted to get the two parties together. I hoped and believed I could have got them together. The reaction I got from people that I have known for in some cases 32 years, was eye opening.